President Donald Trump received a sharp response from The New York Times on Wednesday after his legal team threatened to sue the paper over its reporting on U.S. airstrikes in Iran.
The threat stemmed from a Times article that cited early Pentagon assessments suggesting the bombings would only temporarily delay Iran’s nuclear program—contradicting Trump’s claim that the strikes dealt a decisive blow. CNN first reported on the leaked intelligence and said it too had been warned of possible legal action.
Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, demanded the Times retract what he called a “false,” “defamatory,” and “unpatriotic” story, claiming it damaged the president’s reputation. The article reportedly relied on an internal analysis that the administration has since confirmed exists.
But the Times refused to back down.
“No retraction is needed,” Times attorney David McCraw replied in a letter. “No apology will be forthcoming. We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so.”
Tensions escalated Thursday during a press briefing when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at the media, singling out Fox News’ national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin—normally a Trump-friendly outlet. When Griffin questioned whether Iran had relocated enriched uranium prior to the strikes, Hegseth responded sharply: “You’ve been about the worst, the one who misrepresents the most intentionally what the president says.”
Trump further intensified his criticism on Truth Social, calling for reporters at both CNN and The New York Times to be fired. He also repeated a previous attack on CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, saying she should be “thrown out like a dog.”
The heated exchange marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing battle with the press, especially over national security coverage that challenges his narrative.
